Storage medium that enables supporting print control of information processing apparatus, information processing apparatus, and method of controlling same

Abstract

A storage medium that makes it possible to extend, while preventing lowering of a processing speed of an information processing apparatus, a function of the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus has an application that is associated with print data generation software to thereby support the print data generation software. Whether or not a specific print application that can execute a unique print function has been installed is confirmed, and based on a result of the confirming, whether or not update of print function information used by the print data generation software is required is determined. The print function information is updated when it is determined that the update is required.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method of controlling an information processing apparatus having an application that is associated with print data generation software to thereby support the print data generation software,
 wherein the method comprises:   confirming whether or not a specific print application that can execute a unique print function has been installed;   determining, based on a result of the confirming whether or not the specific print application has been installed, whether or not update of print function information used by the print data generation software is required; and   updating the print function information when it is determined that the update is required.   
     
     
         2 . The storage medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the determining includes determining that the update is required, in a case where the specific print application has been installed and it is determined that extension information required in order to execute the specific print application is not described in the print function information, and
 wherein the updating includes adding the extension information to the print function information when it is determined that the update is required.   
     
     
         3 . The storage medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the determining includes determining that the update is required, in a case where the specific print application has been uninstalled and it is determined that extension information required in order to execute the specific print application is described in the print function information, and
 wherein the updating includes deleting the extension information from the print function information when it is determined that the update is required.   
     
     
         4 . The storage medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the confirming includes confirming whether or not the specific print application has been installed, based on a result of the confirming whether or not the specific print application has been started by using a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). 
     
     
         5 . The storage medium according to  claim 1 , wherein the specific print application executes the unique print function based on the updated print function information. 
     
     
         6 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method of controlling an information processing apparatus having an application that is associated with print data generation software to thereby support the print data generation software,
 wherein the method comprises:   extending, upon receipt of a request for extending print function information used by the print data generation software from a specific print application that can execute a unique print function, the print function information; and   sending back the extended print function information to a print application which is an issuing source of the extension request.   
     
     
         7 . The storage medium according to  claim 6 , wherein the sending back includes transmitting capabilities information processed based on the extended print function information to the print application which is the issuing source of the extension request. 
     
     
         8 . The storage medium according to  claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises restoring the print function information to a state before extension, in a case where the print function information has been extended, and the extended print function information has been sent back to the print application which is the issuing source of the extension request. 
     
     
         9 . The storage medium according to  claim 6 , wherein the extension request is received in a form included in print settings information received from the specific print application, and
 wherein contents of the extension request are specified by setting items included in the print settings information.   
     
     
         10 . The storage medium according to  claim 9 , wherein a name of the print application which is the issuing source of the extension request, or a name indicating a classification of extension information to be added is included in the setting items. 
     
     
         11 . The storage medium according to  claim 10 , wherein a detailed value of the extension information is further included in the setting items. 
     
     
         12 . The storage medium according to  claim 9 , wherein the sending back includes sending back the print function information in a state not extended, to the print application which is the transmission source of the print settings information, in a case where the extension request is not included in the received print settings information. 
     
     
         13 . The storage medium according to  claim 6 , wherein the print application which is the issuing source of the extension request executes the unique print function, based on the extended print function information. 
     
     
         14 . An information processing apparatus having an application that is associated with print data generation software to thereby support the print data generation software, comprising:
 a confirmation unit configured to confirm whether or not a specific print application that can execute a unique print function has been installed;   a determination unit configured to determine whether or not update of print function information used by the print data generation software is required, based on a result of the confirming whether or not the specific print application has been installed; and   an update unit configured to update the print function information when it is determined that the update is required.   
     
     
         15 . An information processing apparatus having an application that is associated with print data generation software to thereby support the print data generation software, comprising:
 an extension unit configured to extend, upon receipt of a request for extending print function information used by the print data generation software from a specific print application that can execute a unique print function, the print function information; and   a sending-back unit configured to send back the extended print function information to a print application which is an issuing source of the extension request.   
     
     
         16 . A method of controlling an information processing apparatus having an application that is associated with print data generation software to thereby support the print data generation software, comprising:
 confirming whether or not a specific print application that can execute a unique print function has been installed;   determining whether or not update of print function information used by the print data generation software is required, based on a result of the confirming whether or not the specific print application has been installed; and   updating the print function information when it is determined that the update is required.   
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling an information processing apparatus having an application that is associated with print data generation software to thereby support the print data generation software, comprising:
 extending, upon receipt of a request for extending print function information used by the print data generation software from a specific print application that can execute a unique print function, the print function information; and   sending back the extended print function information to a print application which is an issuing source of the extension request.